Excited to share a new chapter focusing on growth, innovation, AI and long-term value creation across Geoactive, Alternative Earth and TSS. Onwards.
I’m pleased to share that I’m stepping into a new role as Chief Growth & Innovation Officer (CGIO) at group level while continuing as Managing Director for Alternative Earth. As part of this transition, Terry Carr will be taking on the role of Managing Director for Geoactive, and I am fully supportive of this move. It allows both of us to focus on what we do best and helps the business continue to grow with clarity and strength.
This new group-level role gives me the space to focus on growth, innovation, AI, and long-term value creation in Geoactive, Alternative Earth and TSS.
And to be clear from the start:
I’m not leaving Geoactive. I’m not stepping away from IP & IC. I’m not going anywhere.
This is simply the next evolution.
My relationship with what is now IP & IC goes all the way back to 1997, before these products were even released. I helped shape their earliest direction and made the first commercial sale around 1999. Since then, I’ve stayed close to the technology, the people, and the mission through every chapter:
PGL → Senergy → Lloyd’s Register → and now Geoactive.
When we left LR, I had the privilege of helping build something entirely new. I’m proud to be the founding father of Geoactive, shaping the name, vision, identity, values, and culture of the business we all believe in today.
Seeing that vision come alive has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career.
The last 3.5 years have been transformational. As a team, we took a legacy LR business and rebuilt it into a modern, customer‑centric, scalable software company. Some highlights include:
Business & Revenue Transformation
- Transformed the LR software division into Geoactive
- Increased active customers by 50%
- Increased seats by 40%
- Successfully transitioned the business from perpetual to subscription, significantly strengthening recurring revenue
- Introduced value‑based pricing that improved ARR, NRR, and margin quality
Product, Delivery & Security
- Delivered around 70 software releases across IP & IC
- Achieved ISO27001 certification, strengthening security and compliance
- Improved product alignment, ownership, and quality across the board
Market Momentum & Innovation
- Elevated Geoactive’s global brand presence
- Expanded into adjacent verticals including Alternative Subsurface
- Strengthened the financial position of the business through disciplined execution and sustainable growth
Culture, Leadership & Team
- Built a transparent, flexible, high‑trust culture based on openness and collaboration
- Fostered innovation, customer‑centricity, and a sense of fun despite the intense transformation
- Represented Geoactive globally and strengthened our credibility across markets
I’m incredibly proud of what we built together.
Stepping into the CGIO role allows me to focus on the areas where I can create the greatest impact across the whole group:
- Driving organic and inorganic growth across all business units
- Leading innovation initiatives, frameworks, and cross‑company collaboration
- Guiding AI adoption, standards, and responsible AI governance
- Strengthening pricing, go‑to‑market strategy, and growth acceleration
- Supporting and championing the future evolution of IP & IC, as well as other group technologies
With Terry stepping into the MD role for Geoactive, it also reduces my time spent on cyclical P&L and administrative work, giving me back time to think, create, innovate, and focus on growth at a broader strategic level.
This role change comes with mixed emotions. As the founding father of Geoactive, this business means a great deal to me. There were days that energised me and days that challenged me, often because I cared too much to switch off. But seeing what we have achieved makes every late-night worth it.
Stepping into the CGIO role gives me the opportunity to:
- Reconnect with the creativity that brought me here in the first place
- Lean into the strategic, technical, and innovative work I love
- Help shape the next chapter of growth across the entire group
I’m genuinely excited for what comes next for Geoactive, for the wider group, for our customers and partners, and for all the talented people I get to work with every day.
Onwards, and thank you.
Derek